As dusk sets in the west, the New Year feast begins.
In Xie Queshan's plan, he would put the medicine into Song Muchuan's last sweet soup. When leaving the banquet, Song Muchuan would only think that he was drowsy after eating too much wine. The servants helped him into the carriage that took him back... When he woke up again, he was already on the ship heading to Jinling. .
But no one expected that as soon as everyone sat down in twos and threes and before the dishes could be passed around, a complicated and luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance of Wangxuewu.
After a while, a servant ran in panting and reported, almost out of breath in such anxiety: "It's over, it's over... Lord Wanyan is here to visit!"
Everyone's expressions darkened, not knowing why this uninvited guest came.
"And take Lingfu Diji with you!"
At this time, Mrs. Gantang's expression changed suddenly.
She had just arrived and hadn't had time to hear about Lingfu Diji.
Mrs. Gantang's husband, Marquis Pingnan, was Lingfu Diji's uncle. She had lived in the palace for a while and had a close relationship with Lingfu Diji.
She originally thought that Xu Keyue was captured together with her clan, but she didn't expect that she was taken to Lidu Mansion. When she thought of this niece, whom she loved so much, her steps became chaotic, and she couldn't care about everyone, and was about to walk to the outer courtyard.
Xie Queshan followed him with a straight face. It was such a coincidence that Wanyan Jun came to Xie's house to pay New Year's greetings when Song Muchuan was around. This was definitely planned.
As soon as they went out, they bumped into Wanyan Jun and his group. The two groups of servants lined up neatly, holding New Year's gifts in their hands. At a glance, even these boxes were carefully carved, as if they were visiting to pay New Year's greetings.
Wanyan Jun was tall and tall, and his appearance was not as rugged as that of ordinary Qi people. His clothes were somewhat elegant and decent. His appearance could be considered handsome, but his eyes revealed a hint of cruelty. Being swept by his gaze, I felt inexplicably shuddering.
Xu Keyue walked behind him with her head lowered, dressed in fine clothes, and as she moved, the sound of rustling iron chains could be heard under her feet.
Unexpectedly, the identity of the golden prisoner was revealed to everyone without any concealment.
Mrs. Gantang took a deep breath when she saw this scene. She couldn't say a word and almost stumbled. Fortunately, she was supported by the female envoy beside her.
Xu Keyue raised her head and looked at her aunt in the distance. She just shook her head gently and signaled her not to do anything.
Wanyan Jun's expression was as usual, and when he saw Xie Queshan, he said in a familiar and enthusiastic tone: "Brother Queshan, happy New Year - in this family, the festivals are more grand than outside. Your family is so lively today, If you don’t call me brother, it’s unreasonable, right?”
"Lord Wanyan, Ling Fu Di Ji," Xie Queshan held his hand, not showing any contempt for Ling Fu Di Ji, and also bowed to her, "Today is just a casual gathering of the female relatives at home. I’m thinking of entertaining you two another day——”
Xie Queshan came up with these polite words at his fingertips. He turned to Mrs. Gantang and said, "Second sister, please prepare your seats for Lord Wanyan and Emperor Lingfu."
As he spoke, Xie Queshan raised his eyes in the direction of Song Muchuan and motioned to Mrs. Gantang to take him away. Although Mrs. Gantang was a little sluggish in the extreme shock, she still reacted and calmed down.
As soon as she turned around, she heard Yan Jun say: "Oh, this young master is——"
Wanyan Jun's eyes fell on Song Muchuan.
Immediately, Xie Queshan understood everything. Wanyan Jun would not be attentive or curious about any Han Chinese for no reason, unless he already knew who he was.
Wanyan Jun took a fancy to Song Muchuan's talent and asked Song Muchuan to go to the Shipbuilding Department to build ships for him.
Today, taking advantage of the Xie family's banquet, he wanted to put his purpose on the table and catch Xie Queshan's army off guard. No matter what his intentions were, he couldn't make any small moves. He had to follow Wanyan Jun's wishes and put Song Muchuan on the shelf.
Even if it was one day late, Xie Queshan would have sent him away, but this happened!
Xie Queshan only paused for a moment, and Wanyan Jun looked at him with a half-smile, and he was also gauging his reaction.
When Zhang Yuehui sold him the news about Song Muchuan, he kindly reminded him - "If you insist on forcing this guy, will it embarrass Young Master Queshan? After all, he is his former friend."
The owner of the Return Hall is a lively person who is not afraid of trouble, but he does not want to have any quarrel with Xie Queshan. But the seemingly invisible thorn was planted like this. Of course, he was curious about where the traitor would sit when he returned to his homeland.
Xie Queshan is very clear that at any time, his first priority is to preserve his position.
He smiled calmly and introduced calmly: "This is my old friend, Song Muchuan."
Wanyan Jun pretended to be surprised: "Mr. Song, I have long admired your name. I have long heard that you come from a family of craftsmen and you are a rare craftsman!"
Song Muchuan raised his hand in salute without being humble or arrogant: "Lord Wanyan, you are commending the common people."
"Brother Queshan, this is so unkind of you. With such a talented and virtuous friend, why didn't you introduce him to me earlier?"
Xie Queshanpi smiled but his heart was already tense. He knew that he was passive at the moment, and anything he said that went against Wanyan Jun would arouse his suspicion.
And he is accustomed to sizing up the situation and maintaining his skin-like appearance at all times.
So he got off the slope and acted according to the opportunity: "Isn't today a good opportunity? My lord, Di Ji, please come inside first."
As soon as the big gong sounded, the spring banquet finally began.
Everyone was wearing brand-new clothes and looking at the delicacies, but the smiles on their faces were collectively missing. I was so frightened that I didn't even dare to breathe.
The banquet for the women's family members was set up in the inner hall. Wanyan Jun originally thought that he would let Xu Keyue in and share the banquet with the women's family members, but after he took his seat, he did not let them go, but kept Xu Keyue by his side.
He asked her to pour tea and wine, carry water and handkerchiefs, and even asked her to pick up chopsticks to feed him. Wanyan Jun behaved wantonly, hugging her waist from time to time, or putting his hands on her skirt. It's really vulgar and unsightly.
This is like treating the dignified emperor as a serving female envoy... She is not even as good as an envoy, she is just the lowest concubine, without saving any face.
Even Xie Queshan felt that his smile was a little stiff.
Even though Mrs. Gantang was so well-educated, she was so angry that she turned cold.
Afu beside her happened to grab the food on the table uneasily and knocked over the bone plate. It wasn't a big deal, but Mrs. Gantang gave her a few harsh words.
The little girl didn't understand the situation, so she burst into tears.
The shrill cries faintly reached the men's seats outside, and the atmosphere, which was already freezing cold, became even more gloomy.
Song Muchuan and Wanyan Jun didn't talk much about each other. He didn't even drink the wine he proposed, and he didn't buy into his earnest invitation.
"Thanks to Master Wanyan for being considerate, but Cao Min is a deposed white man and is not qualified to take up a big responsibility in the Shipbuilding Department." However, Song Muchuan did not break his face, "Thank you, Mr. Xie, if there are distinguished guests in your home, then Cao Min will not disturb you."
He actually stood up to leave.
At this moment, Xie Queshan felt a sense of despair in his heart. He very much hoped that Song Muchuan could leave like this. As long as he walked to the door, his people would immediately knock him out and take him on board, and the next day this person would disappear from Lidu Mansion. But he didn't know clearly that Wanyan Jun would never let him go just like that.
It was impossible for him to walk out of this door, but he was grateful that he could not waver in it.
Sure enough, Wanyan Jun's eyes had become a bit gloomy: "Then it seems that I don't have enough face to talk to Mr. Song."
"Xu Keyue, this was once your minister. Go and talk to him. If you can convince him, I will reward him heavily."
Xu Keyue, who was kneeling and silent next to Wanyan Jun, was suddenly touched and raised her face with a look of fear.
No one had realized what this sentence meant, but Xu Keyue, who was used to being tortured, already understood.
Wanyan Jun looked at Xu Keyue playfully: "Think about it, what should you say to Mr. Song to impress him?"
There was no more rustling from the women behind the screen, and everyone could smell the smell of gunpowder.
As women, the women in Lidu Mansion are lucky. Regardless of their status, they are not prisoners at least. But this emperor, who was once as high as a pearl, ended up like this.
But everyone knows that nothing can be done.
Even Xie Queshan couldn't make any move.
Because of the disparity in power, the situation at this moment is the result. And under this disparity, everyone must give up their personality.
Xu Keyue's pleading eyes struggled in the dining room, and the moment they touched Xie Queshan, they felt dim again. She knew he wouldn't help her.
In the silence, Xu Keyue slowly moved her knees, and then moved the iron chain to make a rustling sound. She knelt in the direction of Song Muchuan, her voice trembling into a thin line: "Mr. Song, please..."
The second half of the sentence was stuck in my throat and I couldn't say anything.
She could only let Wanyan Jun flatten and round it, but she knew that those scholars still clung to the old dynasty in their hearts and still regarded her as an imperial concubine.
How could she ask them to sacrifice their lives for the Qi people?
She bit her lip and refused to say any more.
Song Muchuan clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white from the force. He just stood there, unable to move, but he didn't want to sit down again in humiliation.
"Tsk," Wanyan Jun shook his head regretfully, "It seems it's not enough to impress Mr. Song. I wonder what Mr. Song's hobbies are?"
No one answered, so Wanyan Jun said to himself: "How is your beauty? Mr. Song didn't say anything. I know you scholars want to save face. Speaking of which, Ling Fu Di Ji should be the most beautiful pearl in your Yu Dynasty. Alright."
Wanyan Jun grabbed Xu Keyue's robe and said, "Why don't you take off your clothes one by one until Mr. Song lets go?"
Behind the screen, there was the sound of a desk being overturned. Xie Sui'an kicked down the screen and his sword was already unsheathed.
"Wanyan Jun, don't bully others too much!"
The screen fell to the ground, and the shielding between the inner and outer seats was instantly gone, and this embarrassing scene was exposed in front of everyone.
"Xie Xiaoliu——" Xie Queshan's tone has never been so stern, "Sit down!"
His scolding was just a show of pretentiousness, with a harsh expression and a weak undertone.
Xie Sui'an refused to accept it, but Nan Yi immediately stepped forward and forcefully pulled Xie Sui'an back.
"Xiao Liu, don't do this." Nan Yi looked at Xie Sui'an almost pleadingly.
Powerless tears suddenly welled up in Xie Sui'an's eyes. But after Nan Yi pulled her a few times, she still sat down with her neck stiffened.
Nan Yi can understand the truth, how could she not understand it?
She got angry because of her temper, so what if she tried to be a hero? Can she rescue Di Ji? Can she kill Wanyan Jun? There is nothing you can do, and you may put yourself in a dangerous situation, losing your wife and losing your troops.
Wanyan Jun sighed: "You are not satisfied with this either - then I kill the Emperor Ji? Don't you Han people like to say that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated?"
Xu Mengyue gave in. Her trembling hands touched the hem of her clothes and took off her first light green jacket. Then he unbuttoned the secret button, loosened the skirt, and slowly pulled his arms out of the double-breasted jacket.
This is the second one. There was only a dark tube top left inside, with a large amount of skin on her shoulders and neck exposed.
The strap of the tube top was behind her back. She turned her hands behind her back to untie it, but maybe she was shaking too much and couldn't reach it.
Time passed too long.
Nan Yi clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
Her heart was shouting anxiously: Do something, do something, but what can be done?
Suddenly, she saw Xie Queshan wink at her. He glanced at the window and then at the candlestick as if nothing had happened.
That glance was so quick that it seemed like it never happened.
Nan Yi's mind buzzed, and he suddenly understood! She quietly took out the arrow from her sleeve and shot an arrow at the window nearest to her.
With a clanking sound, the sleeve arrow was nailed into the window frame, and the ejection force knocked open the ajar window. The cold wind howling outside rushed in, blowing out all the candles in the room in an instant.
The hall suddenly fell into darkness.
The darkness gave everyone a buffer, and also left Xu Keyue with little dignity left.
After a while, Song Muchuan's dejected voice came: "I'll just accept it."
Xie Queshan closed his eyes and sighed hiding in the darkness. He rarely felt powerless, but at this moment it was as if he was being dragged along by an invisible net.
The cold wind blew on everyone's face, knife after knife, like a slow Ling Chi.
Before the candle could be relit, they heard the collision of iron chains, as if Xu Keyue was running - everyone immediately realized what had happened.
She is already a useless person who is not worth saving. How can she let the scholar-bureaucrat bend down for her? She didn't want to be the sword that cut off a scholar's character, then the humiliations she suffered would really become a shame.
This grand spring banquet originally carried a beautiful meaning, but everyone knew in their hearts that even if the almanac turned to the New Year, nothing could be changed. The filthiest and most miserable ones were cut open bloodyly in front of everyone, and with the melodious sound of wind instruments, strings and bamboos, it was like the beauty in the house turned to ashes in the blink of an eye.
Mrs. Gantang exclaimed heartbreakingly: "Yao Yao!"
Yaoyao is Xu Keyue's nickname, and only those who are extremely close to her know it. But this shouting still failed to regain her determination.
She hit the pillar with a decisive gesture.
Everything he looked at was dark, and every movement seemed particularly thrilling.
